Benton County Court Records Search
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Benton County sits in the northwest corner of Arkansas and ranks as one of the state’s fastest-growing counties, with Bentonville as its county seat. The court system serving Benton County includes a circuit court with multiple divisions, a juvenile division, and more than a dozen district courts spread across the county’s municipalities. Court records generated by these courts encompass case filings, motions, orders, judgments, docket entries, transcripts, and related documents maintained by the Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, and individual district court clerks.
Residents and members of the public seeking Arkansas court records can begin with the official resources maintained by the state judiciary and county offices. The Search ARCourts portal, operated by the Arkansas Judiciary, provides free online access to circuit court case indexes statewide, including Benton County matters. Additional record searches can be conducted through the Circuit Clerk’s public records system, individual district court portals, in-person public access terminals at county offices, and the County Clerk’s probate case index. For broader context on how Arkansas courts are organized, the ArkansasCourts.us website may help users locate publicly available court case information and understand court jurisdiction across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Benton County?
Several pathways exist for locating a court case in Benton County, depending on the case type and originating court.
Online search options:
- Search ARCourts — Visit the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search portal. Select “Participants” from the drop-down menu and enter the party’s name, or search by case number or citation number. Civil and criminal circuit court indexes are available, with document images for cases filed from January 1, 2014, onward.
- Circuit Clerk CourtConnect — The Benton County Circuit Clerk maintains a public court docket search through CourtConnect, which includes docket indexes for circuit court cases.
- Bentonville District Court — Cases filed in the Bentonville Division (Division 2) can be searched through the Bentonville District Court online portal by party name, citation number, or docket number.
- Land and property records — The Circuit Clerk’s Recorder’s Office provides online land records covering deeds, mortgages, liens, UCC filings, judgment dockets, and plats.
In-person research:
Benton County Circuit Clerk — Recorder’s Office
Address: 215 East Central Avenue, Room 202, Bentonville, AR 72712
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (open through lunch)
Phone: (479) 271-1017
Visitors can use self-service terminals to review court indexes and document images during regular business hours. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for certification of a court document.
By mail:
Written requests for copies should be directed to the appropriate clerk’s office with the case number, party names, and payment. The Circuit Clerk accepts requests at:
Benton County Circuit Clerk
102 NE A Street
Bentonville, AR 72712
Are Court Records Public in Benton County?
Court records in Benton County are presumed open to the public under two overlapping legal frameworks: the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq.) and Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 19, which specifically governs access to court records. Under Administrative Order No. 19, requesters do not need to be Arkansas residents and are not required to state a reason for seeking records. Access includes both the right to inspect records and the right to obtain copies.
Records that are publicly accessible include:
- Case filings, motions, orders, and judgments in civil, criminal, domestic, and probate matters
- Court docket entries and case indexes
- Administrative records such as court budgets and meeting minutes
- Land records, judgment dockets, liens, and UCC filings maintained by the Recorder’s Office
Records excluded from public access under Administrative Order No. 19, Section VII:
- Social Security numbers (except the last four digits)
- Medical and mental health records (HIPAA-protected information)
- Adoption records
- Grand jury minutes
- Juvenile case records
- Records sealed by court order
- Unpublished notes, drafts, and deliberative materials of judges, jurors, and court staff
- Security vulnerability assessments of court buildings
- Home addresses of court-appointed officials and crime victims
- Records subject to protective orders (requiring redaction of confidential content such as trade secrets)
For records created before January 1, 2009, clerks and courts retain discretion to redact or restrict confidential information, particularly when those records are available via remote electronic access. Anyone seeking access to records excluded from public view must submit a notarized written request and demonstrate that the public interest outweighs the potential harm of disclosure.
Benton County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Benton County are divided between circuit courts (felonies and appeals) and district courts (misdemeanors, traffic violations, and ordinance violations). The Circuit Clerk maintains felony and criminal appeal records, while individual district courts keep their own misdemeanor and infraction files.
Where to search criminal court records:
| Court | Jurisdiction | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County Circuit Court | Felonies, criminal appeals | 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712 | (479) 271-1016 (Criminal Division) |
| Bentonville District Court (Div. 2) | Misdemeanors, traffic, ordinance violations | 2706 South Walton Boulevard, Bentonville, AR 72712 | (479) 271-3120 (Civil/Small Claims), (479) 271-3132 (Criminal/Traffic) |
| Rogers District Court | Misdemeanors, traffic, civil, small claims | 1901 S Dixieland Road, Rogers, AR 72756 | (479) 621-1132 (Criminal/Traffic) |
| Siloam Springs District Court | Misdemeanors, traffic | 410 North Broadway, Siloam Springs, AR 72761 | (479) 524-4947 |
Online criminal case indexes for the circuit court are searchable through Search ARCourts. Document images for criminal cases are available from January 1, 2014, to the present through the CourtConnect public access system.
Important note: The Circuit Clerk’s Office does not perform criminal background checks. For a formal criminal history report, requesters must use the Arkansas Online Criminal Background Check System or contact the Arkansas State Police at (501) 618-8500.
Statewide criminal record requests through the Arkansas Department of Public Safety:
- Online name-based search: $22.00 per request
- Fingerprint-based search: $14.25 per request
- Mail requests: Complete the appropriate background check request form, include a $25.00 money order or check payable to the Arkansas State Police, and mail to:
Arkansas State Police, ID Bureau
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209
Arrest records are maintained by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s website hosts an inmate roster and accepts Freedom of Information requests through its online FOI request form. The Sheriff’s Office is located at:
Benton County Sheriff’s Office
1300 SW 14th Street
Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 271-1008
Benton County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Benton County are heard in either circuit court or district court, depending on the amount in controversy. District courts have exclusive jurisdiction over claims under $100 and share concurrent jurisdiction with circuit courts over claims between $100 and $25,000. Claims exceeding $25,000 fall within the circuit court’s exclusive jurisdiction.
Filing fees at the Benton County Circuit Clerk (per Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initiating a civil cause of action (civil, domestic, appeal) | $165.00 |
| Initiating a criminal appeal to circuit court | $150.00 |
| Reopening a cause of action | $50.00 |
| Transfer from another district or circuit court | $50.00 |
| Writ of Garnishment, Execution, or Possession | $20.00 |
| Renewal of Judgment | $20.00 |
| Certification of a court document | $5.00 |
| Authentication of a court document | $5.00 |
| Copy of any pleading or document | $0.25 per page |
| Filing a pleading by fax | $1.00 per page |
| Subpoena issued by the Clerk (civil/domestic) | $2.50 |
| Summons issued by the Clerk (civil/domestic) | $2.50 |
How to obtain civil court records:
- Online — Use the Search ARCourts portal to locate circuit court civil case indexes. No fee is required for online viewing.
- In person — Visit the Circuit Clerk’s office at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, during business hours (8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday). Self-service public terminals are available for reviewing case files.
- By mail — Send a written request with the case number and party names to the Circuit Clerk at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Include payment of $0.25 per page for copies and $5.00 per document for certification.
Land and property records maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Recorder’s Office are available online and include deeds and mortgages (1990 to present), liens (August 2002 to present), UCC filings (August 1994 to present, with images from August 2002), plat records (indexes with images from 1998), judgment dockets (indexes from June 1995, with images from November 2007), and lis pendens (October 2007 to present). The online system offers a Basic Level with no monthly fee and $0.25 per downloaded page, or a Professional Level at $80.00 per month with expanded access.
The Benton County Assessor’s Office provides a separate portal for real estate property data, searchable by owner name or parcel number. The Assessor’s physical office is located at 2109 West Walnut Street, Rogers, AR 72756; Phone: (479) 271-1033
Benton County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Benton County — including divorce, child custody, child support, termination of parental rights, adoption, orders of protection, and paternity — are heard in the Benton County Circuit Court’s domestic relations division. Juvenile cases are handled at the Juvenile Justice Center. The Circuit Clerk maintains records for all family court proceedings filed in circuit court.
Circuit Clerk — Courts Office (Civil/Domestic)
Address: 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 271-1015
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (open through lunch)
Juvenile Justice Center
Address: 1301 Melissa Drive, Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 271-5702
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Family case indexes are searchable on Search ARCourts. Document images for domestic-relations cases are available online for filings from January 2014 forward. For physical copies, visit the Circuit Clerk or submit a written request with the case number.
Juvenile records are confidential under Arkansas law and are not available through public search portals. Adoption records are likewise sealed and can only be accessed through a court order or through the state’s confidential intermediary program.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Benton County Clerk’s Office. Both applicants must appear in person with a government-issued photo ID and must be over 18. Fees are $60.00 (cash, exact amount only) or $62.80 (credit/debit card). Walk-ins are accepted from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and appointments are also available. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and must be returned to the issuing county after the ceremony. Questions can be directed to marriage@bentoncountyar.gov.
The County Clerk maintains a searchable online marriage license index, and older marriage records on film are held at the County Clerk Archive at 2111 West Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756. Requests for archival marriage records can be emailed to archives@bentoncountyar.gov.
Divorce record indexes are available through the Arkansas Judiciary Case Search. Physical divorce files are kept at the Circuit Clerk’s office.
Statewide vital records — including marriage and divorce verification letters — can be ordered through the Arkansas Department of Health online, by mail, by phone at (866) 209-9482, or in person. Marriage records cost $10.00 per copy; an additional $5.00 processing fee and $1.85 identity-verification fee apply to online orders. Mail requests should include the completed marriage record application or divorce record application, a copy of valid photo ID, and a money order or check payable to the Arkansas Department of Health.
Mail vital records requests to:
Arkansas Department of Health
Vital Records, Slot 44
4815 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Birth and death records are maintained by the State Bureau of Vital Records, not by the Benton County Clerk. The first certified copy of a birth certificate costs $12.00; additional copies ordered at the same time are $10.00 each. Death records are $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for additional copies. Only eligible individuals — including the record subject, spouse, parent, child, grandparent, descendant, legal representative, or authorized government agency — may request certified copies of records less than 100 years old. Request forms are available for birth certificates and death records. Online ordering is available through the ADH Vital Records portal.
Benton County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Benton County — including wills, estate administration, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and name changes — fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court’s Probate Division. The County Clerk serves as the clerk for the Probate Division, maintaining all probate case records, indexes, and related filings.
County Clerk — Probate Division
Address: 102 NE A Street, Room 206, Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 271-5727
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
How to search probate records:
- Online — Probate case dockets and indexes are available through the CourtConnect public search maintained by the Arkansas Judiciary. Search by case number or party name.
- In person — The County Clerk’s Probate Division at the Bentonville Courthouse allows public inspection of probate files during office hours. The filing fee to initiate a probate cause of action in circuit court is $165.00 under Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403. Copies of probate documents cost $0.25 per page; certification is $5.00 per document.
- Archival records — Historic probate records dating from 1860 through 1980 are held in the County Clerk Archive at 2111 West Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756. Will books, estray records, and other historic probate volumes are also maintained there. Researchers may email archives@bentoncountyar.gov with detailed requests for archival materials.
Guardianship proceedings in Arkansas require a court-appointed attorney and a judicial finding of incapacity for adults, or a determination that guardianship serves the best interests of a minor. Probate cases involving wills require the original will to be filed with the County Clerk, followed by a petition to the circuit court. Filing deadlines and procedural requirements are set by the Arkansas Probate Code (Ark. Code Ann. Title 28). The County Clerk’s staff can explain filing procedures but cannot provide legal advice; individuals needing legal guidance should contact a licensed attorney.